Event

Solo Piano Concert

Join us for an afternoon of inspiring solo piano, featuring two award-winning pianists, Starr Parodi and Christine Brown! This is a casual and relaxing way to experience the beauty and power of live solo piano, each performing original music selections and telling the story behind the music.

Steinway Recording Artist - Starr Parodi's Solo Piano CD Common Places: piano improvisations, which echos with heartfelt neo-classical, americana, gospel and cinematic themes all played as "stream of conciousness" improvisations, has become an iconic touchstone on the landscape of solo piano recordings. Known for it's passionate, intimate and ethereal piano improvisations Common Places was the winner of the inaugural Whispering's Solo piano recording of the Year award in 2007. Mark Vail from Keyboard magazine had this to say about Common Places: "Parodi's pianistic sense and delivery go way beyond creative. Words that come to mind while listening to Common Places include imaginative, courageous, dynamic, passionate, gutsy, pensive, restrained and euphoric. I'm thoroughly entranced by the whole experience". Common Places was also lauded by KCRWʼs Chris Douridas: "This deeply passionate and beautiful recording (Common Places) is one of the best albums of the year."

Starr, who recently accompanied Carole King on her Grammy nominated CD A Holiday Carole, has recorded with or accompanied a vast array of internationally treasured artists such as Celine Dion, Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder, BB King and Ringo Starr will be playing works from both Common Places and her greatly anticipated upcoming CD The Heart Of Frida.

As a performer, Starr first garnered early national recognition as the late night pianist/keyboardist on the groundbreaking Arsenio Hall Show, she was invited to play at the Kennedy Center for the inauguration of President Clinton and was honored by Keyboard Magazine as one the most influential contemporary keyboardists.

As a composer for film, television & live concert works, Starr with her writing partner Jeff Eden Fair has won multiple BMI awards for top television shows as well as collaborating on films including Bert Stern: Original Mad Man, Conversations With Other Women (Helena Bonham Carter), New Line Cinema's High Roller, Rysher's The 18th Angel, television series including Transformers: Rescue Bots, The Starter Wife (Debra Messing), G.I. Joe: Renegades, The Division (Jon Hamm, Taraji Henson), numerous films for television and hundreds of Hollywood's most visible film trailers (Last Samurai, James Bond, Mission Impossible 2, Harry Potter, Dream Girls, Night At The Museum, X-Men 3 etc...), including their influential & groundbreaking production/arrangement of the James Bond Theme (RIAA Gold Record). In 2009, Starr became the first woman to have her concert orchestral works performed in the 75 year history of the Laguna Arts Pageant Of The Masters, where she currently is a featured composer in residence.

"I record and play this music purely out of joy, purely out of sorrow, purely out of a longing and a searching, a peacefulness and restlessness. These are the common places we all share." - Starr Parodi

Local resident Christine Brown is an award winning pianist and composer of contemporary classical solo piano, endorsed by the prestigious Kawai Pianos a Kawai Artist. "Souvenirs" is her tenth album release, awarded "Best Piano Album of the Year 2014" by Whisperings Solo Piano Radio. One World Music says, "Christine has indeed raised the bar, Souvenir's is an album that has such a depth of emotion held within, it is going to be a landmark album for her career in the solo piano genre."In addition to original piano works, Christine has also arranged and composed two Christmas CDs and collections of popular children's music. Her two previous releases, "The Wishing Well" (2012) and "Promise"(2009) were also both nominated for Solo Piano Album of the Year, and "A Classic Christmas" and "Souvenirs" were named on MainlyPiano.com's "Favorites List".Christine discovered her love for the piano at an early age, receiving classical training for several years. While earning a business degree at the University of Colorado, she was inspired by George Winston's new age genre of solo piano, but never studied music or composition. Years later, Christine rediscovered her passion for the piano, immersing herself in her music after the loss of her mother in 1990. She began composing, using the piano to voice her emotions, releasing heartfelt compositions that captured listeners.

Christine's piano style is a unique blend of new age/contemporary with a strong classical influence. Reviewers write, "A mixture of passion, exceptional playing chops and an abundance of grace consistently puts her music in a category of its own. . .the pieces express a wide range of emotions and experiences with depth, sincerity and an elegant touch." Inspired by her life experiences and emotions, Christine creates captivating music that tells a story. "Her music is vibrant, colorful and full of life. Skilled at the art of blending chords and note progressions into beautiful aural tapestries, her emotions come through her music ... and through her music she is able to reach out and touch the hearts of millions of appreciative piano music fans."

Today, Christine continues to perform and compose. Her music can be heard worldwide, featured on Pandora, Spotify, Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, Muzak, cable and satellite channels, Healing Healthcare Systems, and is also distributed worldwide by iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and most major download sites. Christine currently resides in San Diego, California with her husband and two sons.